When two friends shared with me they had intellectual property stolen from them recently, I was livid. I sat with why it bothered me so much. After all, it happened to them, not me, so why get so worked up about it? Here is why. I hate to see people taken advantage of.
I went to college and received a degree in graphic design. Since graduating, I have learned a lot about protecting my work, my ideas and my intellectual property. I learned the hard way. I have had numerous brand identity concepts, writing and designs stolen. I have worked for “cool people who are movers and shakers” only to have them screw me in the end. I learned that I am the CEO of ME and it is my job to take care of myself and my work. I learned to work smarter and not trust every person who told me they liked my work or they liked me. Being likable does not mean you are trustworthy.
When I hear about other people doing business and trusting the client who later steals from them, or the up and coming blogger who is frequently visited and complimented by a more seasoned blogger only to have them steal their content, it pisses me off. I know I can not fight my friends’ battles, but I can support them by calling attention to the situation. That is exactly what I do in my latest video.
How do you deal with people who have stolen your work or clients who have stolen concepts? Let’s share and become aware of ways of protecting our intellectual property.
THIEVERY IS A BIOTCH!!! Amen. Testifiy! You said it sister! No more stealing!!!
Jenny, listening to my friends stores was terrible. People steal and don’t care who they hurt or how it affects the person they stole from.
Thanks Lu, someone had to say it!
And, I will keep on saying it, Jana. This is the topic you don’t hear about at the conferences. We need to talk more about it.
Great write-up!!!
Thank you, Kisha!
SCREAMING, “Yes” at the top of my lungs!!!
I know you are! LOL
Amen! Stop the dang stealing…or you will go to blogger jail! (I wish) lol
I still think someone needs to be outed. I’m sure they have stolen content before.
GURL! I have the vaseline out, the hair pulled back and the earrings have come off! Let me find out…#insertexpletivephraseshere
I knew I’d anyone was going to be ready to fight, it would be you, Sili!
Girl, thank you thank you thank you! I just need people to be original and stay in their own damn lane. I don’t care if you add an apostrophe, take one away, capitalize, remove some letters, whatThehellEver, do YOU, use your brain and do something NEW! Big or small, if you create anything you have to protect yourself.
Yes! This was not just a video for the thieves. This was a video for the creatives. We must protect what we create.
Please tell me you’re going to make a pitch to the next round of conferences on this topic. It is getting worse. Protecting my creativity and intangible assets is something I have to get better about. Thanks for the warning and the wake-up call.
I would love to speak more about this. I promise, my friend, I will pitch this for future conferences.
Thank you for saying this as clear as clear can be. I will never understand why people refuse to out intellectual property thieves. We wouldn’t just sit back if we saw someone have their purse stolen so why is this ok? So glad this is finally getting attention - it’s a topic that needs to be out there as it happens in every creative industry!
I agree. More needs to be said about this. It happens far too much for my liking.
I do love you so. Amen and amen!